Since 1974, we meet or beat the prices of authorized dealers. If you find a work of fine art for less from an authorized dealer within 30 days of your purchase from us, we'll match that price and give you $50 off your next fine art purchase from Gallery One. We guarantee it! All this plus the best service, quality and state-of-the-art shipping in the world of fine art! Most items ship free!

PRICING INFO

PRICING INFO

THOMAS BLACKSHEAR II, the son of an Air Force captain, was born in Waco TX and grew up in Atlanta. He pursued an interest in art throughout high school, securing a scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago. After a year there, he transferred to the nearby Academy of Art. While finishing his college education, he was recruited by Hallmark Cards. He settled in Kansas City, where he became head illustrator at the prestigious Godbold/Richter Studio. A year later, he began a prosperous freelance career, illustrating many advertisements, several U.S. Postal Service stamp collections—one called “Black Heritage,” another on classic movies and a third on jazz musicians—and several series of Hamilton Group collector’s plates featuring scenes from Star Wars, Star Trek, and The Wizard of Oz. Although he was successful, he was dissatisfied and decided to pursue a career in fine art. Blackshear has received many awards for his artwork, including the Society of Illustrators’ coveted Gold Medal. He was profiled on The Living Canvas, an art magazine of the airwaves that was shown on public television, and he has been featured on the Ebony/Jet Showcase and The 700 Club, and in The Saturday Evening Post. An exhibit of his original works for the Black Heritage stamp series premiered in 1992 at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and subsequently toured the United States.